Car insurance rating factors by state

What information can car insurance companies use to price car insurance rates? And how does that vary by state?

Updated March 8, 2024

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Introduction

Can your credit history or marital status affect what you pay for car insurance? What about your gender or your job? For most drivers in the U.S., the answer is yes. But it depends on where you live.

Each state sets its own rules for what information insurance companies can or can’t use when pricing auto insurance. Things like your driving record, what car you drive, and other data about you as an individual help them determine how risky you are to insure. The higher the risk of you filing a claim (and costing the insurance company money), the more you’ll have to pay for insurance.

It’s the personal, non-driving factors that draw the most scrutiny from consumer advocates and insurance regulators. Most states allow insurers to consider these personal factors when setting rates because insurers can show statistics linking each factor to a greater risk of claims. However, some states prohibit certain factors they consider to be unfair to use for pricing car insurance.

In fact, government investigations in two different states recently sparked changes to allowable rating factors. In January 2019, California’s insurance commissioner banned gender in auto insurance rating, and New York banned occupation and education in late 2017. Michigan lawmakers voted to ban six non-driving factors — including gender and education — in May 2019.

Rating factor

A single category of information an insurer uses to assess a consumer’s risk and determine pricing (ie. type of vehicle or driving record)
Underwriting

The process insurance companies use to evaluate a set of rating factors in order to determine risk and appropriate pricing
Actuarial justification

The mathematical proof provided by insurance companies to show how rating factors are linked to the increased risk of consumers filing a claim
Unfairly discriminatory

Rates are considered unfairly discriminatory when they’re not accurately tied to risk.

Non-driving car insurance rating factors by state

	Gender	Age	Driving Experience	Credit History	Education	Occupation	Employment Status	Marital Status	Residential status	Address/ZIP Code	Insurance History
Alabama	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Alaska	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Arizona	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Arkansas	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
California	✕	✕	✔	✕	✕	✕	✕	✔	✕	✔	✕
Colorado	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Connecticut	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Delaware	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Florida	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Georgia	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hawaii	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✔	✔
Idaho	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Illinois	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Indiana	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Iowa	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Kansas	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Kentucky	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Louisiana	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Maine	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Maryland	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Massachusetts	✕	✕	✔	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✔	✔
Michigan	✔*	✔*	✔	✔	✔*	✕	✔*	✔*	✔*	✔*	✔
Minnesota	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✕	✔	✔*
Mississippi	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Missouri	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Montana	✕	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔
Nebraska	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Nevada	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
New Hampshire	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
New Jersey	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
New Mexico	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
New York	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
North Carolina	✕	✕*	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
North Dakota	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Ohio	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Oklahoma	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Oregon	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Pennsylvania	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Rhode Island	✔	✔*	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
South Carolina	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
South Dakota	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tennessee	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Texas	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Utah	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Vermont	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Virginia	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Washington	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Washington, D.C.	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
West Virginia	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Wisconsin	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Wyoming	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Editor’s note: A factor is considered “permitted” when there are no laws or regulatory policies in the state that ban or effectively ban insurers from using the factor. State regulators generally require actuarial proof of future losses for all rating factors and prohibit rates that are excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.

About non-driving auto insurance rating factors

The following are some of the most common non-driving factors used by insurers to price auto insurance. Whether and how these factors apply to pricing varies by company.

Gender: Is the driver male or female? Men and women pay different rates in most states. Several states allow drivers to identify as gender X or non-binary.
Age: How old is the driver? Young drivers, especially teen drivers, are considered higher-risk than adult drivers.
Driving experience: How long has the driver been licensed? New drivers are considered higher-risk than experienced drivers.
Credit history: Has the driver been financially responsible? Drivers with low credit ratings are considered higher-risk than those with good credit.
Education: Has the driver completed high school or college? Drivers with higher levels of academic achievement are considered lower risk.
Occupation: What does the driver do for work? Drivers with certain professions (teachers, engineers, doctors, etc.) are considered lower risk than others.
Employment status: Does the driver have a job? Drivers who work full time are considered lower risk than those who are unemployed.
Marital status: Is the driver married? Married drivers are considered lower-risk than those who are single or divorced.
Residential status: Does the driver rent or own their home? Drivers who are homeowners are considered lower risk than those who rent.
Insurance history: Has the driver maintained continuous car insurance coverage? Drivers who stay covered are considered lower risk than those who allow coverage to lapse — even for a day.

Why do states have different car insurance laws?

A few states — California, Hawaii, Michigan and Massachusetts — are noticeably more restrictive than other states. That’s because lawmakers in those states decided it was unfair for insurers to charge some drivers more due to certain personal characteristics or possible economic disadvantages.

Those in favor of more restrictive regulation argue that drivers’ car insurance costs should primarily reflect their driving. They say it’s unfair for insurers to charge higher rates to people who don’t have a college degree or who can’t afford to own a home.

Other states take a different approach to insurance regulation, giving insurers more leeway to identify and use the factors they find useful in predicting losses. The factors each company considers and how they’re weighted varies, but insurers generally argue that the more flexibility they have to set rates, the more accurate prices are for consumers. They say limiting rating factors can result in lower-risk drivers subsidizing higher-risk drivers.

Do these different regulatory styles affect rates? Yes, but the impact hits consumers differently depending on their situation. For example, drivers who have a perfect driving record but poor credit may benefit from being in a state like California, where bad credit doesn’t impact rates. Drivers with good credit, however, may benefit by being in a state where their good money habits net them a discount on insurance.

Car insurance pricing laws by state

Alabama

Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Banned (or effectively banned): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Alaska
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Banned (or effectively banned): not-at-fault accidents
Notes & Clarifications: Rating prohibitions include the existence or driving record of a resident or relative properly excluded under AS 28.20.440(l); variables that cannot be reevaluated and/or which are fixed at new business inception. See Alaska’s Rates Checklist for additional details.

Arizona
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Arkansas
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

California
Allowed (with applicable limitations): driving experience, marital status, address/zip code
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): gender, age, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, residential status, insurance history
Notes & Clarifications: California’s insurance commissioner banned gender as of January 2019. Occupation and education are permitted for use in group plans (i.e. for alumni associations and other membership programs).

Colorado
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: The permissibility of the above factors depends on detailed review by the state’s department of insurance. The company must provide actuarial justification, and factors cannot be applied in a manner that results in a rate that is excessive or inadequate. Use of credit history must comply with the provisions set forth in Colorado Revised Statute 10-4-116. Rates may not be based solely on insurance history, gender, marital status, or age.

Connecticut
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Delaware
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Florida
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Georgia
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): occupation, education, and employment status
Notes & Clarifications: none

Hawaii
Allowed (with applicable limitations): address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status
Notes & Clarifications: none

Idaho
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Illinois
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Indiana
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Iowa
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Kansas
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Kentucky
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Louisiana
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Maine
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: Insurers must provide supporting data and methodology showing rates are actuarially justified and not unfairly discriminatory. Insurers may not refuse a policy solely because a driver has reached age 65. Age and length of driving experience must comply with limitations prohibiting policy cancelations, reductions, refusals, or premium increases for drivers of advancing age.

Maryland
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: Specific state restricts apply for credit history, marital status, and age.

Massachusetts
Allowed (with applicable limitations): years of driving experience, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): gender, age, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status
Notes & Clarifications: none

Michigan
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender (group-rated policies), age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status (group-rated policies), residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): gender (non-group policies), marital status (non-group policies)
Notes & Clarifications: Gender and marital status are permitted only in rate-making for group plans (i.e. for alumni associations and other membership programs). UPDATE:Michigan lawmakers approved a major insurance reform bill in May 2019 that will ban insurers in the state from using gender, marital status, address/zipcode, residential status, education and occupation in rate setting. The ban will be enforced starting in July 2020. Insurers will be permitted to use “territory” as approved by the state regulators instead of zip code.

Minnesota
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, marital status, address/zip code, insurance history*
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): residential status, employment status
Notes & Clarifications: Insurance history may only be used if coverage was required by law.

Mississippi
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: Rating by address/zip code is allowed; however, rating practices can’t be unfairly discriminatory and must fully comply with Mississippi’s Competitive Rating Law criteria.

Missouri
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: Insurers must provide support to demonstrate that any variables, on their own or in concert with other variables, do not lead to rates that are excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.

Montana
Allowed (with applicable limitations): age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): gender
Notes & Clarifications: none

Nebraska
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Nevada
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

New Hampshire
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

New Jersey
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

New Mexico
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

New York
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): occupation, education, employment status
Notes & Clarifications: none

North Carolina
Allowed (with applicable limitations): years of driving experience, credit history, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): gender, age*, level of education*
Notes & Clarifications: Age is permitted only when providing a discount to drivers age 55 and older. Credit may not be the sole criteria for terminating an existing policy, but it can be the sole criteria for discounting rates. Education is prohibited as a general regulatory policy. Specific state limitations apply for occupation and employment status.

North Dakota
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Ohio
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Oklahoma
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Oregon
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: Option for non-binary drivers required for gender.

Pennsylvania
Allowed (with applicable limitations): age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): gender
Notes & Clarifications: Credit may be used for new business and to discount rates at renewal, but not to increase rates at renewal. For marital status, widowed drivers maintain a lower “married” rate after the death of a spouse rather than moving to the higher “single” rate. Rates for other factors may not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory.

Rhode Island
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age*, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: Age is permitted up to age 65. Drivers with no credit history must be treated as “neutral.”

South Carolina
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

South Dakota
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Tennessee
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Texas
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Utah
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Vermont
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Virginia
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: Insurers using any criterion for pricing purposes (discounts, surcharges, tier level, etc.) must apply the criteria to all risks, not just to the same class of risks.

Washington
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Washington D.C.
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

West Virginia
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Wisconsin
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

Wyoming
Allowed (with applicable limitations): gender, age, years of driving experience, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, marital status, residential status, address/zip code, insurance history
Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): none
Notes & Clarifications: none

The Zebra contacted insurance regulators in each state and Washington D.C. to verify the above information. Updates are made as new laws and policies go into effect and are accurate to the best of our ability. (For clarifications, please contact us at research@thezebra.com.)

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